Uxbridge Arts & Cultural Centre

As part of the master planning process, a comprehensive urban design analysis of the wider Howick Village was undertaken in order to better understand the opportunities in the Uxbridge precinct presented to the village.

The most significant opportunities included:

• Enhancement of existing pedestrian linkages to the Howick village and the creation of new ones.
• The significance of the existing village character and therefore the importance of an architecture that complemented that character.
• The opportunity created by existing view shafts and vistas.
• The opportunity to form a space that became a focus of the development.
• The importance in an architectural sense of the former church which had become the iconic building of the Uxbridge precinct.
  

The former church, while not a listed building still has some historic and architectural merit and its visibility is enhanced in the proposed redevelopment. The architecture of the new building is contemporary, understated and different from that of the former church in a move to highlight the former church as the iconic building in the complex.

The exterior paint selection was chosen to create a distinct contrast of old versus new. The dark grey and black exterior contrasts starkly with the adjacent historic predominantly white church.

Existing timber weatherboards are painted in Resene Sonyx 101 waterborne semi-gloss in Resene Triple Blanc and Resene Alabaster, the exterior cladding is finished in Resene Lumbersider low sheen waterborne paint in Resene Half Bokara Grey and the existing concrete block in Resene Lumbersider in Resene French Pass. The roof was painted in Resene Ironsand. For a touch of colour, existing steel gutters and downpipes are finished in Resene Kombi.

New timber surfaces are painted in Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne paint in Resene Mojo, with Resene Cinder on the cladding and Resene Black on the exterior concrete block, both in Resene Lumbersider.

The interior spaces are predominantly white and neutral tones due to use as gallery and studio spaces. Feature walls provide accent colours in art studio and circulation spaces, using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Bombshell and Resene Morning Glory.

The site was challenging, with complex typography which meant a requirement for ramps internally and externally, in order to facilitate access for people with disabilities.

Architectural specifier: GHD Woodhead Creative Spaces
Building contractor: Hawkins
Client: Auckland Council
Interior designer: GHD Woodhead Creative Spaces
Painting contractor: DFS
Photographer: Simon Devitt
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2017